Thursday, January 27, 2011

Anybody out there wanna go fishing? Our events are always for the Scouts. Here is one for us adult leaders and our friends. We are having our 5th annual overnight fishing charter on Sunday April 3rd. We leave Saturday night April 2nd at 10pm. Once again we will be chartering the Pacific Islander, with plenty of bunks, out of Channel Islands Sportfishing. Pole rentals, all gear and fishing licenses are available at the dock.

This is an outstanding trip every single year. We go at the opening of the season and coupled with the fact we get to the outer island the fishing is great. Limits are the rule and not the exception on this trip. Cost is only $135 which is $10 less than their regular overnight trips. We will be taking only 22 with us, so there is a lot of room on the rail. The trip is open to Scouting leaders over 18 years whether you are a season fisherman or a novice. Space available, you can invite a friend over 18. If you are a novice this is the perfect trip for you, there are a lot of knowledgeable fishermen happy to help another Scout leader. Get in your reservation soon, we fill up every year. You can email me at pauloliver@roadrunner.com for any questions, or give me a call. Hope to see you on the water.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Lancaster JetHawks (Class-A affiliate of the Houston Astros) are preparing for another fun season of great baseball and exciting entertainment. Every year, we host a night for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and we would love to have you out to the ballpark for these great events! Right now, we have a special deal we are offering to Scout Groups. If you sign up for the Scout Sleepover, you will receive the same amount of tickets for our All-Scout Day on Sunday, April 10th! The Boy Scout Sleepover will take place on Saturday, July 23rd and the Girl Scout Sleepover will happen on Saturday, June 18th!

These events are always a blast for the Scouts and we would love to have your Scouts attend in 2011! If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. We look forward to another great year of JetHawks baseball! Have a great day and a great weekend!

I am planning on starting a High-Technology Venture Crew within the next couple of months. The Venture Crew is part of the Boy Scouts of America program; it is available to all boys and girls from ages 14 through 20 (within the San Fernando Valley area).

The focus of this High-Technology Venture Crew is to attract, promote, and develop long-term interest and skills (within the youth) in subject matters related to high-technology products and industries. In addition, the High-Technology Venture Crew organization will be run much like a company, including various "departments" like engineering, marketing, and production. This unique approach to the Venture Crew is intended to expose the youth to "real life" experiences in developing and fabricating high-technology products and potentially marketing them to the public.

I am looking for interested youth and adults, male and female. I am also still looking for a Charter organization and other companies or individuals who would like to be sponsors of the Crew.

The introduction letter has detailed information regarding the High-Technology Venture Crew. If you could forward this information onto the appropriate individuals who you think would be interested, that would be excellent. Interested parties can reach me at (818) 360-5159 or norbsoski@yahoo.com. Once again, thank you for all your help and support.

Why do you need this training:
To meet the BSA Shooting Sports Rangemaster training requirements, and to provide scouts in your pack and our district the opportunity to participate in one of the most loved Scouting activities!

What to bring:
Class B or civilian clothes are fine.
Pen and paper for note taking.
Warm clothes (We will be outside part of the time.)

Time:
Archery Rangemaster Training will be from 8:00am to 12:00pm
BB Rangemaster Training will be from 1:00pm to 5:00pm

Cost:
$10.00 per discipline ($20.00 if you are taking both Archery and BB training)
Make checks payable to: Troop 583
Your registration must be received by Wednesday, February 2nd

Do you have a particular skill you think would make other leader's lives easier?

Do you have the desire to impart your vast knowledge on other leaders?

Or do you just like to talk about your favorite Scouting subject?

If so then you are just the person we are looking for!

Pow Wow / University of Scouting is looking for dynamic volunteers with a willingness to share their wisdom to help us put on the greatest supplemental training session of the year! We would really appreciate your help in making this event fantastic! Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 29, 2011.

If you are interested in helping, please email your information to Robert and Sunday Moore at powwow2011@yahoo.com and we will provide you with more details. If there is a specific area that you would like to teach or serve on staff, then let us know.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

If you answered yes to just one of the above questions, then here is the greatest opportunity for you to be a friend to another Pack, Troop or Crew.

Unit commissioners are a very important part of the Scouting big picture, as your abilities to look, listen and offer suggestions can make a positive impact on the many aspects another unit may experience.

You will meet new people and establish new-found friendships and will be embraced with enthusiasm, while at the same time having the knowledge to help assist others within Scouting.

How can you do that, you ask? ...Well, it's not easy, but once you start your training and put your education into play, you will be hooked for life.

Like I said, it's a commitment to take the required classes, but the final outcome will give you a more in-depth insight into how the Scouting program works and your part in helping others to succeed, and can help in your own personal growth also.

What you will learn from this class is not only beneficial in Scouting, but can be incorporated into your job in dealing with pesky co-workers, and interacting with the public as well.

Go for it!

The rewards outweigh the time you put into taking the class, and once you catch the bug, you may want to continue your education by earning a Bachelors, Masters or even a PhD. degree in Commissioners Science.

Please review the course schedule for learning the ins and outs of becoming a Unit Commissioner, and I promise, you will totally enjoy your extended role as a Scouting leader and mentor.

Scouts participating in climbing programs at Whitsett this summer will have a new element to look forward to. Fred Willis of Quantum Rock has donated a twenty-foot rock wall capable of accommodating up to four climbers at a time. This addition to our climbing program will allow us to serve more climbers at once and allow novice climbers to progress steadily from easy routes to more advanced climbs.

Staff available for troop visits

Emerald Bay and Whitsett are both filling fast, with several weeks already near capacity! If you have Scouts still on the fence about attending camp this summer, we are happy to have a representative from Emerald Bay or Whitsett come and speak at a troop meeting. To learn more or register for camp, please visit us at www.campwhitsett.org or www.campemeraldbay.org.

Island fox population rebounds

Endemic to Catalina, the Island Fox is much smaller than its mainland cousins, similar in size to a small house cat. In 1999, Catalina Fox populations plummeted from a high of 1,300 individuals to only about 100 due to an outbreak of Canine Distemper virus. They were placed on the federal endangered species list, and the Island Conservancy has since been engaged in an aggressive breeding program and recently announced that the population has rebounded to over 1,000 individuals.

New Eagle merit badges come to Whitsett

Responding to popular demand, Camp Whitsett is adding three new Eagle required merit badges for the 2011 camping season. First Aid, Citizenship in the Nation, and Citizenship in the Community will all be available to Scouts registering for badges this spring. Taught by experienced staff in a beautiful mountain setting, we are pleased to offer these badges and give Scouts the opportunity to progress further along the trail to Eagle while at summer camp.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Friends of Scouting provides the financial support we need to increase participation, provide strong program delivery, and continue to recognize the achievements of our remarkable young men and women.

Please contact Paul Oliver, Eliot Brown, or Stephen Snowden with the following information, or mail it to the Western Los Angeles County Council, so that we can schedule your unit presentation and give your families an opportunity to support the growth of Scouting in Balboa Oaks.

Your name

Your email address

Unit type (Pack, Troop, Crew, Team, Ship) and number

Date and time of presentation

Friends of Scouting presentations take only ten minutes and fit best into the beginning of a Blue and Gold Dinner, full Pack or Troop meeting, or Court of Honor.

If you have any questions or need help with scheduling your presentation, please call or email Stephen Snowden: (818) 933-0129 Stephen.Snowden@Scouting.org

Friday, January 7, 2011

The National Eagle Scout Association has established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community or other entity. The Award recognizes the Scout for his Eagle Scout leadership service project, which is part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout Award. Each local council will choose a council-level winner, and from that pool, each region will pick a region-level winner. A national winner will then be selected from the four regional finalists.

Scouts must apply to the Western Los Angeles County Council Advancement Committee by January 21, 2011.

You and your Cub and Webelos Scouts are invited to attend Troop 415's Winter Camping Variety Extravaganza on Wednesday, Jan 26, at 7:15pm. Have your Scouts learn about proper clothing, winter food, First Aid, what to bring, and and how to have fun in the Snow.

The one hour show will be held at 7:15pm, on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, at De La Salle Church on the North East Corner of Chatsworth St and Hayvenhurst Ave (enter parking lot off of Hayvenhurst). There will be a selection of winter camping food and drink for sampling after the show.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The United States Heritage Award was designed to give youth recognition for learning about the heritage of the United States of America, and being involved.

By completing the United States Heritage Award, it is hoped greater understanding and pride of our nation will prevail. A medal and a patch can be awarded to all that successfully complete the award requirements. All requirements can be done with a unit, group, family, or individually.